Introduction
American founder of the Ford Motor Company and progenitor of modern automobile assembly line mass production known as Fordism, Henry Ford became one of the best known and wealthiest persons who ever lived. A pioneer of welfare capitalism, Ford was an ardent believer in international peace via international trade and cooperation. An enigmatic and complex figure at times, Ford exhibited a wide range of strongly held opinions and interests. His fundamental/down to earth outlook on life permeated in various aspects of his life – business as well as life philosophy.. In regards to the role of history, Ford once said, “History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history that we make today (The Phrase Finder). This is considered his second most popular saying the other being “People can have the Model T in any colour – so long as it’s black (The Phrase Finder).”
Discussion
History is in essence a written, oral, preserved chronological order of past events (Lemon). It is the mechanism through which the human experience is put into perspective – past, present, and future. History assists in understanding past tragedies as well triumphs and is a tool to measure success and failure. Without knowledge of the past, mankind cannot live a successful life. History is a measuring rod to ascertain natural feelings and desires – how one thinks. The essential key to understanding the importance of history is who the authors are and what is their agenda. Have they committed truth or have they put their personal spin/slant on it and for what reason?
Ford postulates that history has become synonymous with tradition – time honored practices, customs, or beliefs. In most cases, however, such institutionalized traditions are not rooted in proven historical fact. Where does it say in the Bible that Jesus was born on December 25th or that he resurrected from the dead on Easter? For that matter how can a rabbit lay eggs? From the Ham Curse to present day Weapons of Mass Destruction and War on Terror – all traditions that have become an intrinsic part of world history. For Ford to make such a proclamation infers he may have understood this premise in terms of associating history with tradition. Suffice to say, from this perspective one could agree with his interpretation.
One has no control over the past, but what a person does in the present will affects the future/history. When Ford fully grasped the impact he had on the automotive industry and the world economy as a whole, he desired to turn the clock back. “Once Ford realized the tremendous part he and his Model T automobile had played in bringing about this change, he wanted nothing more than to reverse it, or at least to recapture the rural values of his boyhood. (Ford)” Bunk is a slang term for boring, poor quality. To relegate history as bunk does not do it proper justice. From this premise, Ford may have been a little naïve in terms of its importance and effect.
Conclusion
Spanish iconic philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist George Santayana once said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (Santayana).” It is along this vein that the authors of the class reading assignments seem to concur. The authors exhibit their knowledge of history and its importance – past, present, and future. History has value, but the value must be based on truth and fact. Think about the War in Iraq and its historical/moral implications. End result- nearly 5000 US deaths [officially], between 25,000 to 125,0000 Iraqis dead [depending on who is using what methodology], 4-5 million Iraqi refugees, and over $1 trillion in cost. Weapons of mass destruction/War on Terror in effect became a weapon of mass deception. Santayana’s words ring emphatically true. History is crucial but this type of history can truly not repeat itself.
Bibliography
Henry Ford. Web.
Lemon, Michael C. The Discipline of History and the History of Thought. Routledge, 1995, Page 201.
Santayana George. “The Life of Reason.” BiblioLife. Volume One, p. 82.
The Phrase Finder. Web.